Mardi Gras, Carnival and New Orleans celebrations
King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year.
- The Krewe of Bacchus, the fourth and largest of Sunday’s parades in New Orleans, rolls down the traditional uptown parade route on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune, Kathleen Flynn)
- Revelers celebrate Mardi Gras in the French Quarter in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Crowds scream for beads on Orleans Avenue as the 3,000 men of the Krewe of Endymion roll down their traditional Mid-City route with their Carnival parade “Fantastic Voyages” in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Michael DeMocker)
- Rex, King of Carnival, Christian T. Brown, waves to the crowd during the Krewe of Rex parade on Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. Revelers in glitzy costumes filled the streets of New Orleans for the annual fat Tuesday bash, opening a day of partying and parades. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Rex, King of Carnival, Christian T. Brown, toasts the crowd during the Krewe of Rex parade on Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. Revelers in glitzy costumes filled the streets of New Orleans for the annual fat Tuesday bash, opening a day of partying and parades. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Tori Alcina and Allison Hebert, both 10, play games in the rain while awaiting Queen Evangeline’s Mardi Gras Parade in downtown Lafayette, La.,, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. Monday, known in New Orleans as Lundi Gras, includes the traditional ceremonial meeting between the king and queen of the Krewe of Zulu and Rex, the King of Carnival, and his queen. (AP Photo/The Lafayette Daily Advertiser, Paul Kieu)
- Parade-goers vie for beads and trinkets during the Krewe of Proteus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The day is known as Lundi Gras, the day before Mardi Gras. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- In this Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 photo, the Mystic Stripers Society parade rolls along Route A during Mardi Gras, in downtown Mobile, Ala. Through a series of billboards and a video, Mayor Sandy Stimpson is highlighting Mobile as the city where Mardi Gras originated in an effort to grab a bit more of the tourist dollars that flow through the region each year when Mardi Gras rolls around. (AP Photo/AL.com, Mike Kittrell)
- Zumba instructors dance during the Krewe of Neptune parade in Biloxi, Miss., Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015. Thousands lined the streets of Biloxi as the parade rolled for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. (AP Photo/Sun Herald, Amanda McCoy)
- Revelers participate in the Society of Saint Anne parade on Mardi Gras day in the Marigny section of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Crowds scream for beads on Orleans Avenue as the 3,000 men of the Krewe of Endymion roll down their traditional Mid-City route with their Carnival parade “Fantastic Voyages” in New Orleans, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Michael DeMocker)
- Revelers play brass band music as they begin the march of the Society of Saint Anne Mardi Gras parade, on Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. Revelers in glitzy costumes filled the streets of New Orleans for the annual fat Tuesday bash, opening a day of partying, parades and good-natured jostling for beads and trinkets tossed from passing floats. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Revelers cheer for beads though clouds of theatrical smoke from a float during the Krewe of Proteus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. The day is known as Lundi Gras, the day before Mardi Gras. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- A man walks his dog in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras February 17, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a celebration traditionally held before the observance of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Christian Lenten season. (Photo by Drew Anthony Smith/Getty Images)
- People sing songs while walking through the French Quarter during Mardi Gras February 17, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a celebration traditionally held before the observance of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Christian Lenten season. (Photo by Drew Anthony Smith/Getty Images)
- A band performs in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood during Mardi Gras February 17, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a celebration traditionally held before the observance of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Christian Lenten season. (Photo by Drew Anthony Smith/Getty Images)
- A house sits decorated for Mardi Gras in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood February 17, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a celebration traditionally held before the observance of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Christian Lenten season. (Photo by Drew Anthony Smith/Getty Images)
- Members of the Phunny Phorty Phellows disembark a streetcar during their night of revelry in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Revelers participate in the Society of Saint Anne parade on mardi Gras day in the Marigny section of New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- The Krewe of Rex parade rolls through downtown New Orleans on Mardi Gras day in New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Mona sits in her cart as she waits for the start of the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux parade along the seawall in Galveston, Texas, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. The parade is sponsored by the Galveston Island Humane Society as a way to involve family pets in the spirit of Mardi Gras. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
- A member of the Pinstripe Brass Band plays the trumpet during King’s Day festivities in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Members of the Phunny Phorty Phellows, participate in their night of revelry aboard a streetcar in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Members of the Stooges Brass Band perform in a second-line procession during King’s Day festivities in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- A members of the Phunny Phorty Phellows takes photos as they disembark a streetcar during their night of revelry in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Members of the Phunny Phorty Phellows, toss beads during their night of revelry aboard a streetcar in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Members of the Storyville Stompers Brass Band play as the Phunny Phorty Phellows, participate in their night of revelry aboard a streetcar in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Members of the Phunny Phorty Phellows, toast people on the street as they participate in their night of revelry aboard a streetcar in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Members of the Phunny Phorty Phellows, participate in their night of revelry aboard a streetcar in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Members of the Phunny Phorty Phellows, toss beads to children during their night of revelry aboard a streetcar in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Members of ‘The Tramps,’ the oldest unit of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, a historic New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe, participate in King’s Day festivities in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Members of the Phunny Phorty Phellows, participate in their night of revelry aboard a streetcar in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
- Darrin McWilliams, a member of ‘The Tramps,’ the oldest unit of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, a historic New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe, participates in King’s Day festivities in New Orleans, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. King’s Day is a tradition marking the 12th night after Christmas and the official start of the Mardi season. Carnival is celebrated along the Gulf Coast with parties, balls and parades culminating on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, a final day of celebration before Lent. It is a major tourist draw in New Orleans. Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 17 this year. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)